Help Essex County Improve Hazard Mitigation Plan

A contractor hired by Essex County is soliciting local residents’ input into updating the county hazard mitigation plan.

A disaster recovery and mitigation planner with California-based Tetra Tech spoke at a Millburn Township committee meeting Tuesday, according to a northjersey.com report.

Miller was tasked with updating the county plan, its first refresh in five years, and is speaking with officials from towns around Essex County while stressing the importance of hearing from residents.

Miller pointed interested residents to a Citizen Preparedness Survey that could help officials put together a more comprehensive plan.

"Public outreach is big," Miller told northjersey.com. "This is a great tool for the public."

Miller expects the new hazard mitigation plan to be completed by October. The plan must be filed with FEMA in order for municipalities to receive federal relief grants.